MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany, announced this week that it will grow its presence in Montgomery County with a $286 million investment to expand its biosafety testing capacity. This is the largest investment in contract testing in the history of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The expansion will add 500 jobs over the next four years to the company’s Montgomery operations, while retaining the more than 600 fulltime employees it already has in the County.The company, which has been known locally as BioReliance Corporation, currently has five locations in Rockville. It plans to consolidate in a new 250,000-square-foot facility at 9820 Darnestown Rd. on the Alexandria Center® at Traville Gateway campus in Rockville. The new facility is being developed and operated by Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. MilliporeSigma will retain one additional facility at 9630 Medical Center Dr. in Rockville.
“We welcome the expansion of MilliporeSigma in Rockville and are proud the company recognizes that its business can continue to significantly grow here in Montgomery County,” said Montgomery County Executive, Marc Elrich. ‘Their work helps ensure the safety of medicines developed in the County and around the world.”
MilliporeSigma’s growth will significantly increase the company’s capacity to conduct biosafety testing and analytical services for drug development to ensure the safety of medicines as demand for these services is growing at double-digit rates.
“MilliporeSigma is part of the ever-expanding ecosystem of life sciences companies in Montgomery County, and we are delighted that they have chosen to expand their presence here,” said Bill Tompkins, president and CEO of Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. “With the FDA, NIH and dozens of federal labs close by, MilliporeSigma will continue to benefit from excellent local resources and partnership opportunities.”
MilliporeSigma has held a presence in Maryland for more than 75 years and is expanding its Mid-Atlantic footprint due to the County’s East Coast location and accessibility to Maryland’s highly trained and technical workforce. Biosafety testing and analytical development are critical and fundamental requirements of the drug development and commercialization process to ensure the safety of medicines.
“Our full contract testing services facility in Rockville will continue to serve as a hub for innovation to address current challenges and meet tomorrow’s demands,” said Benoit Gourdier, head of contract testing services at MilliporeSigma. “We look forward to continuing to grow here and to giving back to the Montgomery County community as we transform patients’ lives by ensuring the safety of the world’s medicine.”
To assist with the expansion, MilliporeSigma is eligible for a $1 million conditional loan through the Maryland Department of Commerce's Advantage Maryland (MEDAAF) program. Montgomery County is providing a $100,000 incentive package via its Economic Development Fund. MilliporeSigma also is eligible for various state and local tax credits.
"We appreciate the enormous investment by MilliporeSigma here in our County,” said Montgomery County Council President Gabe Albornoz. “It is a testament to the strong partnership with our biotechnology sector and our continued commitment to their success. We are proud that the work they do here will benefit patients worldwide.”
The State is making a strong commitment to the expansion, said Governor Larry Hogan.
“Maryland has built one of the nation’s strongest life sciences industries, and having MilliporeSigma reinvest in its Maryland biosafety facility will bring hundreds of more jobs to the Montgomery County community and continue to grow the region’s innovative workforce,” said Governor Hogan. “Our administration has made expanding the State’s life sciences and biotechnology research workforce a priority, and the progress our life sciences industry has made in the last eight years is another sign that Maryland is open for business.”